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| Inspectors Leave Syria as U.S. Defends Plan for Attack | Inspectors Leave Syria as U.S. Defends Plan for Attack |
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| The White House on Saturday moved to shore up domestic and international support for a possible military strike against the Syrian government in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on its own people, as United Nations inspectors left Syria. | |
| Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other top aides to President Obama scheduled conference calls for Saturday afternoon with members of the United States Senate, where there was deep skepticism in both parties about the prospect of American involvement in another war in the Middle East, even the limited cruise missile strike under consideration. | |
| The back-to-back calls to the Democratic and Republican conferences were arranged to fulfill Mr. Obama’s promise to consult with Congress as he contemplates military action, but there was no sign that the White House planned to seek a Congressional vote authorizing the use of force. In addition to Mr. Kerry and Mr. Hagel, both former senators, Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence, and Susan E. Rice, the president’s national security adviser, will participate. | |
| The calls come just hours after United Nations weapons inspectors left Syria for Lebanon early Saturday morning, in effect clearing the way for a strike. American officials had made clear they would hold off using force until the inspectors departed safely but had no intention of waiting until they had delivered a formal report on the use of chemical weapons, citing their own intelligence conclusions that President Bashar al-Assad’s government was responsible for the chemical weapons attack, which killed more than 1,400 people in the eastern suburbs of the capital, Damascus. | |
| President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who has made clear he would block any authorization of force by the United Nations Security Council, stepped up his opposition to such a retaliatory strike on Saturday, dismissing the suggestion that Syrian authorities were behind the Aug. 21 attack as a provocation. Given that the Syrian Army had the advantage in a grinding civil war that has so far killed 100,000 people, Mr. Putin told reporters in Vladivostok that “to say that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons is utter nonsense.” | President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who has made clear he would block any authorization of force by the United Nations Security Council, stepped up his opposition to such a retaliatory strike on Saturday, dismissing the suggestion that Syrian authorities were behind the Aug. 21 attack as a provocation. Given that the Syrian Army had the advantage in a grinding civil war that has so far killed 100,000 people, Mr. Putin told reporters in Vladivostok that “to say that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons is utter nonsense.” |
| Privately, some American officials acknowledged mistakes over the past week in their buildup for a strike, leading British lawmakers to reject participation on Thursday. It is unclear when Mr. Obama realized that the British vote would go against him, but it was not until Friday afternoon that the White House released what it said was evidence of chemical weapons use by the Assad forces — nearly 24 hours after Parliament had voted rather than beforehand, when it might have been used to build a coalition against Mr. Assad. | Privately, some American officials acknowledged mistakes over the past week in their buildup for a strike, leading British lawmakers to reject participation on Thursday. It is unclear when Mr. Obama realized that the British vote would go against him, but it was not until Friday afternoon that the White House released what it said was evidence of chemical weapons use by the Assad forces — nearly 24 hours after Parliament had voted rather than beforehand, when it might have been used to build a coalition against Mr. Assad. |
| Deprived of the support of Britain, America’s most stalwart wartime ally, the Obama administration scrambled behind the scenes to build international support elsewhere for a strike that might begin as early as this weekend. Officials were still holding out hope that at least one Arab country might publicly join the military coalition. | Deprived of the support of Britain, America’s most stalwart wartime ally, the Obama administration scrambled behind the scenes to build international support elsewhere for a strike that might begin as early as this weekend. Officials were still holding out hope that at least one Arab country might publicly join the military coalition. |
| The White House got a boost on Friday from an ally that has had a long, tortured diplomatic relationship with the United States, and that vehemently opposed the American-led war in Iraq. In France, President François Hollande offered vigorous support for military action in Syria, saying that the Aug. 21 attack “must not go unpunished.” The French endorsement led Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday to praise France as “our oldest ally” — a reference to a partnership that goes back to the American Revolution and a not so subtle dig at the country’s neighbor across the English Channel. | The White House got a boost on Friday from an ally that has had a long, tortured diplomatic relationship with the United States, and that vehemently opposed the American-led war in Iraq. In France, President François Hollande offered vigorous support for military action in Syria, saying that the Aug. 21 attack “must not go unpunished.” The French endorsement led Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday to praise France as “our oldest ally” — a reference to a partnership that goes back to the American Revolution and a not so subtle dig at the country’s neighbor across the English Channel. |
| Late on Friday, the Russian government condemned the threats of military action and said any strike not authorized by the United Nations Security Council would be a violation of international law. “Even U.S. allies are calling for a ‘pause’ to wait for the completion of work by the group of United Nations experts to get an objective picture of what happened,” Aleksandr K. Lukashevich, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a statement. | Late on Friday, the Russian government condemned the threats of military action and said any strike not authorized by the United Nations Security Council would be a violation of international law. “Even U.S. allies are calling for a ‘pause’ to wait for the completion of work by the group of United Nations experts to get an objective picture of what happened,” Aleksandr K. Lukashevich, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a statement. |
| Mr. Kerry said the United Nations could not respond to the Syrian chemical weapons attack because of Russia’s veto authority on the Security Council, which prevents the Council from galvanizing “the world to act, as it should.” | Mr. Kerry said the United Nations could not respond to the Syrian chemical weapons attack because of Russia’s veto authority on the Security Council, which prevents the Council from galvanizing “the world to act, as it should.” |
| Mr. Kerry also said that the decisions made in other countries were not foremost on the president’s mind. “President Obama will ensure that the United States of America makes our decisions on our own timelines, based on our values and our interests,” he said in forceful remarks from the State Department that presented the administration’s rationale for an attack. | Mr. Kerry also said that the decisions made in other countries were not foremost on the president’s mind. “President Obama will ensure that the United States of America makes our decisions on our own timelines, based on our values and our interests,” he said in forceful remarks from the State Department that presented the administration’s rationale for an attack. |
| Shortly after Mr. Kerry spoke, Mr. Obama insisted that he still had not made a decision about what action the United States would take in Syria, but he did say he was considering a “limited, narrow act.” He ruled out any operation involving American ground troops. | Shortly after Mr. Kerry spoke, Mr. Obama insisted that he still had not made a decision about what action the United States would take in Syria, but he did say he was considering a “limited, narrow act.” He ruled out any operation involving American ground troops. |
| In the midst of the hawkish statements, Mr. Obama acknowledged the deep skepticism in the country — reflected in Congressional support that is tepid at best in both parties — about the necessity of a military strike. | In the midst of the hawkish statements, Mr. Obama acknowledged the deep skepticism in the country — reflected in Congressional support that is tepid at best in both parties — about the necessity of a military strike. |
| The president said he appreciated that there was a “certain weariness” after the war in Afghanistan and a suspicion about military action in the aftermath of the Iraq war. But, he said, “a lot of people think something should be done, but nobody wants to do it,” and the United States would send the wrong message to the world if it did nothing. | The president said he appreciated that there was a “certain weariness” after the war in Afghanistan and a suspicion about military action in the aftermath of the Iraq war. But, he said, “a lot of people think something should be done, but nobody wants to do it,” and the United States would send the wrong message to the world if it did nothing. |
| The decision about whether to use force, Mr. Kerry said, was a test of American standing in a world in which other nations might be tempted to pursue or use weapons of mass destruction. | The decision about whether to use force, Mr. Kerry said, was a test of American standing in a world in which other nations might be tempted to pursue or use weapons of mass destruction. |
| Iran was first on the list of nations, Mr. Kerry said, and might take mistaken lessons from the chemical attack in Syria if the United States failed to respond. | Iran was first on the list of nations, Mr. Kerry said, and might take mistaken lessons from the chemical attack in Syria if the United States failed to respond. |
| “This matters also beyond the limits of Syria’s borders,” Mr. Kerry said. “It is about whether Iran, which itself has been a victim of chemical weapons attacks, will now feel emboldened in the absence of action to obtain nuclear weapons.” | “This matters also beyond the limits of Syria’s borders,” Mr. Kerry said. “It is about whether Iran, which itself has been a victim of chemical weapons attacks, will now feel emboldened in the absence of action to obtain nuclear weapons.” |
| A four-page intelligence summary released as Mr. Kerry was speaking said that American spy agencies had determined that 1,429 people had been killed in the Aug. 21 attack, carried out in the dead of night in rebel-controlled areas of the Damascus suburbs. Of that number, the report said, at least 426 were children. The numbers were the first accounting of the dead by the American government. | A four-page intelligence summary released as Mr. Kerry was speaking said that American spy agencies had determined that 1,429 people had been killed in the Aug. 21 attack, carried out in the dead of night in rebel-controlled areas of the Damascus suburbs. Of that number, the report said, at least 426 were children. The numbers were the first accounting of the dead by the American government. |
| The report contained little specific information about the electronic intercepts, satellite images and reports from spies that led intelligence agencies to conclude not only that the attack involved chemical weapons, but that they had “high confidence” the attack had been ordered by senior officials in Mr. Assad’s government. “High confidence,” according to the report, is the “strongest position that the U.S. Intelligence Community can take short of confirmation.” | The report contained little specific information about the electronic intercepts, satellite images and reports from spies that led intelligence agencies to conclude not only that the attack involved chemical weapons, but that they had “high confidence” the attack had been ordered by senior officials in Mr. Assad’s government. “High confidence,” according to the report, is the “strongest position that the U.S. Intelligence Community can take short of confirmation.” |
| The report said that in the three days before the attack, American intelligence agencies began picking up indications that Syrian troops were preparing to use chemical weapons. Just before the attack was launched, according to the report, the troops put on gas masks. It is not clear from the report whether the United States or its allies made efforts to warn rebel groups in the Damascus suburbs. | The report said that in the three days before the attack, American intelligence agencies began picking up indications that Syrian troops were preparing to use chemical weapons. Just before the attack was launched, according to the report, the troops put on gas masks. It is not clear from the report whether the United States or its allies made efforts to warn rebel groups in the Damascus suburbs. |
| American officials have said there is no information tying Mr. Assad directly to the attack, but the intelligence report said there was a “body of information” leading spy agencies to conclude “regime officials were witting of and directed the attack on Aug. 21.” | American officials have said there is no information tying Mr. Assad directly to the attack, but the intelligence report said there was a “body of information” leading spy agencies to conclude “regime officials were witting of and directed the attack on Aug. 21.” |
| In one intercepted communication, according to the report, a “senior official intimately familiar with the offensive” confirmed that chemical weapons were used by Syria last week and was concerned that United Nations weapons inspectors might obtain evidence of the attack. | In one intercepted communication, according to the report, a “senior official intimately familiar with the offensive” confirmed that chemical weapons were used by Syria last week and was concerned that United Nations weapons inspectors might obtain evidence of the attack. |
| A spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, said he had given the five permanent members of the Security Council “an overview” of the inspector mission’s work on Friday but declined to specify what — if anything — the inspectors had concluded. Mr. Kerry on Friday dismissed any findings as essentially irrelevant because the inspectors’ mandate was restricted to determining only if chemical weapons had been used, not who launched the attack. | A spokesman for Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, said he had given the five permanent members of the Security Council “an overview” of the inspector mission’s work on Friday but declined to specify what — if anything — the inspectors had concluded. Mr. Kerry on Friday dismissed any findings as essentially irrelevant because the inspectors’ mandate was restricted to determining only if chemical weapons had been used, not who launched the attack. |
| A number of Arab diplomats said it was unlikely that they would go further than their previous condemnations of the Assad government. | A number of Arab diplomats said it was unlikely that they would go further than their previous condemnations of the Assad government. |
| “Libya was farther away, and that made it easier to support,” said one Arab official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing continuing talks. “With Syria and Iran, you’re talking next door. You have to think about your own self-defense.” | “Libya was farther away, and that made it easier to support,” said one Arab official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing continuing talks. “With Syria and Iran, you’re talking next door. You have to think about your own self-defense.” |
| Although a number of Arab leaders have lobbied hard for deeper support for the Syrian rebels, they are reluctant to spend political capital on a limited American airstrike that would not topple Mr. Assad. | Although a number of Arab leaders have lobbied hard for deeper support for the Syrian rebels, they are reluctant to spend political capital on a limited American airstrike that would not topple Mr. Assad. |
| “Why would they stick their necks out when this is just meant to teach Assad a lesson?” said Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. | “Why would they stick their necks out when this is just meant to teach Assad a lesson?” said Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. |
Reporting was contributed by Peter Baker, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger and Robert Worth from Washington, David M. Herszenhorn from Moscow, and Gerry Mullany from Hong Kong. | Reporting was contributed by Peter Baker, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger and Robert Worth from Washington, David M. Herszenhorn from Moscow, and Gerry Mullany from Hong Kong. |